Improvement in water-wheels



m. n. snow. Water-Wheels'.`

Patented bine` 30, 1874.

lI-I

v .mvenlom UNITED Scrariiis PATENT OFFICE. `W

niRQUIs D. GROW, OR'DURUQUE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 152,484, dated June 30, 1874; application filed April 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARQUIS D. GROW, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-IVheel, Of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a detail vertical section of my improved water-wheel, taken through the line w at, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, part of the cap-plate or cover being broken away.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved water-wheel which shall be so constructed as to utilize the greatest possible amount of the power of the water, furnish a free discharge for the water, enable the entrance ofthe water to be fully controlled, and the gates to be easily operated.

The invention will iirst be fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

A is the ease of the wheel, in the upper part of which are formed the chutes al, to conduct thewater to the buckets of the wheel B, which wheel iits into the interior of the case A, and is attached to the shaft C. The lower end of the shaft C revolves upon a step in the center of the cup D, formed upon or at-V tached to the spider E, the ends of the arms of which enter a ringgroove in the lower part of the case A, notches being formed in said case to enable the spider to be removed by turning it partly around. b1 are the buckets, which are made straight and radial, and are formed upon or attached to the body of the wheel B. b2 are the discharges 'or issues, which extend rearward from the lower ends of the buckets b1, and are curved downward as shown in Fig. l, so as to be convex upon their upper side, as shown. The convex issues b2 are surrounded by a band, b3, attached to or formed upon their outer edges, and the upper edge of which rests against the shoulder a2, formed by the thickening of the case A for the chutes al, so that the water from said chutes may be discharged directly against the buckets b1. By this construction the full force of the water will be exerted upon the buckets b1 until its forward movement is stopped, audits full weight will then act upon the issues b2 to drive the wheel forward, so that the whole power of the water will be utilized. Upon the outer side of the ease A, a little below the chutes al, is formed a ila-nge, a3, upon which rests the main gate F, through which are formed openings corresponding in shape and position with the outer ends of the chutes a1, so as to form continuations of said chutes. To the top of the gate F is bolted a ring, Gr, which fits laround the edge of the top or cap plate H, in bearings in the center of which the shaft C revolves. To the cap H are pivoted at their angles two elbow-levers, I, the outer arms of which have short longitudinal slots formed in them to receive the pins J attached to the ring G. TO the other arms of the levers I, near their outer ends, are pivoted the ends of a connecting-bar, K, sothat the levers I may operate together upon the opposite parts of the ring Gr to move the gate F.

By this arrangement the gate F will be moved without any side draft, and, conseque-ntl y, with much less friction than when the power is applied at one side of the gate only.

Upon the outer end of one of the connected arms of the levers I is formed a toothed rack, i', to receive the pinions of the hand-wheel shaft for adjusting' the gate. Upon the lower part of the outer side of the gate F is formed a flange, j", upon which rests the Outer gate L, which has a ange, Z1, formed upon the lower part of its outer side, in one part of which are formed teeth l2, into which is geared a governor, so that the gate L may be adjusted automatically to regulate the ingress ofthe water by the motion of the wheel, which niotiou is controlled by the resistance encountered, or, in other words, by the amount of machinery to be driven by said wheel.

Having thus describedmy invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Fatentl. The radial buckets b1, having convex discharge-surfaces b2, surrounded by a band, b3, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of outer gate L and inner gate F, the former resting upon a iiange, j", of the latter, and having a flange, l, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the bent levers I and connecting-bar K with the main gate F and the top or cap plate H of the casing, substantially as herein shown and described.

IVitnesses: MARQUIS D. GROW'.

HENRY KOLR, JOHN McGOvERN. 

